Techster’s 1973 FJ55 buildup...
- Thread starter treerootCO
- Start date
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.
Very cool work bud!
Great to hear the thing might be close to hitting the trail. Time for a breakin trip somewhere now. That is only after you show me a few more things about the lockers and fuse crap.
Hope the little pig is close. I can't wait to see the way that winch threads out to the front of the cruiser. That has to be one of the coolest things yet. That is a great winch except for the spooling pile up problem it can have, followed by a breaking of the top portion. Can't imagine that ever happening again with it in plain sight.
I'll get there in a couple days or sooner to get the 55 out of the way. Will ring first.
Great to hear the thing might be close to hitting the trail. Time for a breakin trip somewhere now. That is only after you show me a few more things about the lockers and fuse crap.
Hope the little pig is close. I can't wait to see the way that winch threads out to the front of the cruiser. That has to be one of the coolest things yet. That is a great winch except for the spooling pile up problem it can have, followed by a breaking of the top portion. Can't imagine that ever happening again with it in plain sight.
I'll get there in a couple days or sooner to get the 55 out of the way. Will ring first.
You can't be serious Eric? You want to wheel the Greatest Pig in the World? Rocks would flee in terror miles before you came near them! No Pig should ever have whine the way yours does! It's sick and I'm jealous!
Shut up. We all know of your affinity for pork products, but goebs is going to do what is right and wheel that mother, as it was intended. Besides there is nothing "pig" about it anymore anyway.
Goebler anytime you want, im game for wheeling. Or you can wait til Gumby is done and then wheel using the money you get from your social security check. Then spend the day extracting his junk off the trail....ask me how I know.
Been there to witness some of his carnage. I chalked it off to bad luck on Troy's trail. Bad luck and more bad luck....
I am hoping to get my 40 back soon as well so I should be ready to play either way. At least the 40 fits on my trailer. We need to make plans for a weekend up north so you can see what McCaslin is all about. Thinking if the first week in July if I can pull it off!
As for wheeling the pig Phil...It was built with that in mind. I have a garage queen and she likes her pigs a little more beat up and dirty then that. The Cliffs might be too tight for that big thing, but the Badlands and Northern Wisconsin sure won't be. If I can find a garage space in Colorado, it will be living there and enjoying some real wheeling.
I am hoping to get my 40 back soon as well so I should be ready to play either way. At least the 40 fits on my trailer. We need to make plans for a weekend up north so you can see what McCaslin is all about. Thinking if the first week in July if I can pull it off!
As for wheeling the pig Phil...It was built with that in mind. I have a garage queen and she likes her pigs a little more beat up and dirty then that. The Cliffs might be too tight for that big thing, but the Badlands and Northern Wisconsin sure won't be. If I can find a garage space in Colorado, it will be living there and enjoying some real wheeling.
Last edited:
Eric- When I went over to see Gumby yesterday- he was driving the wee out of that thing. Just going around in circles in the parking lot. It sounds really MEAN! Nice truck. If it goes to the Badlands- I'd like to see it.
Luke
Luke
to be fair, I was pulling it from one hoist to the next so I could weld the steering stops on and I don't like starting anything up and moving it 10 feet, then shutting it back off again, and the front diff lock isn't disengaging right so I was testing that and driving the wee out of that truck is a pretty damn fun thing to do. 
By driving the weee out of it I assume you meen driving it around the parking lot and listening to the tires loose tread by the second...Krawlers love asphalt!
Good thing it didn't leave the parking lot cause you then would have realized how frickin scary the thing is on the road when you hammer it.
Then again it is nice to hear that it is actually out of a garage finally! That is a dam good sign of things to come. Now if we can get it from the shop to the trails...that will be a great day!
It will most likely see the badlands soon. I love that place and know it well so it would be a great place to learn how to wheel something that big. Been emailing Troy with no reply. I owe him a visit and morning hangover. Moonshine trip.
Goebs
Good thing it didn't leave the parking lot cause you then would have realized how frickin scary the thing is on the road when you hammer it.
Then again it is nice to hear that it is actually out of a garage finally! That is a dam good sign of things to come. Now if we can get it from the shop to the trails...that will be a great day!
It will most likely see the badlands soon. I love that place and know it well so it would be a great place to learn how to wheel something that big. Been emailing Troy with no reply. I owe him a visit and morning hangover. Moonshine trip.
Goebs
I didnt think it was that scary when i romped on it 
Just a little bump steer with heavy peddaling, but hey it has soft coil overs and 400+ HP. If you behave it should be fine. Even my truck with just the 5vze can get a bit sketchy and requires some significant steering corrections upon hard braking and throttle.
Just a little bump steer with heavy peddaling, but hey it has soft coil overs and 400+ HP. If you behave it should be fine. Even my truck with just the 5vze can get a bit sketchy and requires some significant steering corrections upon hard braking and throttle.
It's a lot better since I tightened up the loose tie rod.
Gotta figure out the lockers and it's done.
Then back to the little pig. Got cool gussets in the mail last night for it.
I'm wondering how hard it would be to make up some gumby or pig shaped gussets
Gotta figure out the lockers and it's done.
Then back to the little pig. Got cool gussets in the mail last night for it.
I'm wondering how hard it would be to make up some gumby or pig shaped gussets
When the GPITW is ready for either Badlands or McCaslin consider me in. My old slow junk could use the exercise! I get my distributor parts today so I should be ready soon.
Snap a pic of those gussets Todd! I'm thinking I could add a few to my Ginger Fabbed Cage! Maybe I can get some laser cut depicting half eaten doughnuts or something.
Snap a pic of those gussets Todd! I'm thinking I could add a few to my Ginger Fabbed Cage! Maybe I can get some laser cut depicting half eaten doughnuts or something.
What's left on the 50?
I was thinking the list might be getting real short at this point. Hoping the next pics will be on some trail somewhere soon.
Get that other crap out of the shop now and wrap this thing up.
I was thinking the list might be getting real short at this point. Hoping the next pics will be on some trail somewhere soon.
Get that other crap out of the shop now and wrap this thing up.
Didn't get a lot done on the GPITW, but I did get some answers that will put me on track to getting it sorted out, I think.
The 50 got some work done this afternoon. I put in the shock tabs on the axle side front. I got the shock hoop in the rear, but I need an extra hand to get the shocks compressed while I position it to mount the hoop. I boxed in one spring spacer and got it all mounted up, complete with a Blue Torch Fab gusset that's a bit blingy, but kinda cool. I welded in the stinger gusset/ tow hook eyes, but forgot to take a pic. Got the powdercoated locker linkage all mounted. Ground down the ram mount a little so the ram would fit at all axle positions. Got the fuel lines all run and in clamps all the way down the frame rails. I think that's it. It was a busy two hours.
The list is still way, way too long.
beware of booger welds.
The 50 got some work done this afternoon. I put in the shock tabs on the axle side front. I got the shock hoop in the rear, but I need an extra hand to get the shocks compressed while I position it to mount the hoop. I boxed in one spring spacer and got it all mounted up, complete with a Blue Torch Fab gusset that's a bit blingy, but kinda cool. I welded in the stinger gusset/ tow hook eyes, but forgot to take a pic. Got the powdercoated locker linkage all mounted. Ground down the ram mount a little so the ram would fit at all axle positions. Got the fuel lines all run and in clamps all the way down the frame rails. I think that's it. It was a busy two hours.
The list is still way, way too long.
beware of booger welds.
Last edited:
Thinking about this for a gusset on the upper fender tube. I don't think it detracts from the lines as much as a straight tube. The fancy gussets I bought were too busy. I could also go with a simple plate gusset. I suppose I should at least get GingerFab's opinion since I'll be putting his sticker on the truck.
Last edited:
Gunny Fab!.... Douches
The gusset looks sweet! Burn it in!
Those BTF gussets are gay. You need to make some gussets that looks like Gumby trying to hold things up! 
Goebler, Im already planning your badlands trip for a couple weekends from now.
The gusset looks sweet! Burn it in!
Those BTF gussets are gay.
You need to make some gussets that looks like Gumby trying to hold things up! Goebler, Im already planning your badlands trip for a couple weekends from now.
GingerFab
I'm gonna make some stickers.
GingerFab cages
on the pipe since '06
I want 4 please! In a nice crimson to match his hair and the color of his skin after a couple of hours in the sun!
Gunny Fab!.... Douches
The gusset looks sweet! Burn it in!
Those BTF gussets are gay.
Goebler, Im already planning your badlands trip for a couple weekends from now.
A friend of mine, here in town, has a CNC plasma table. If you want some Gumby gussets- send me a .dxf file and how thick you want them.
Open Clip Art Library Running pig
Luke,
see this pig outline... Can you please have a few cut so I can create gussets from them...
Couldn't find the Gumby type yet
Luke,
see this pig outline... Can you please have a few cut so I can create gussets from them...
Couldn't find the Gumby type yet
What size overall dimensions? Approximately.
I'll take it to him tomorrow- also- what material? Mild Steel, 1/4" thick? How many?
If he'll do them- I'd rather get you the right amount rather than need to go back to have him make more. Once the machine is set up- that's the time to make them.
Luke